News item | 26-09-2023 | 10:30
To give all students in group 8 the opportunity to fully participate in the advancement test and important cultural traditions, schools in primary education will now have three instead of two weeks to administer the (digital) advancement test. This extra week of time allows schools to be more flexible in scheduling the test at a time that suits them and their students.
Minister Paul (Primary and Secondary Education) wrote this in a letter to the House of Representatives. She thus meets the fervent wish, especially in the south of the country. In recent weeks, Paul has held discussions with representatives of school boards, teachers, parents, test makers and carnival associations, among others, to map out the consequences of extending the collection period. By giving schools the opportunity to administer the digital test a week earlier than planned, nothing needs to change for schools and students who do not celebrate carnival. For schools in the south, administering the progression test earlier means that they also have to give students their provisional school advice earlier.
Identity
Minister Mariëlle Paul: “It is important that students can take the progression test in group 8 on time and properly. At the same time, as a native of Brabant, I understand very well that children in the south in particular want to enjoy the beautiful carnival. That is part of their identity. That is why I have decided to extend the legal period within which the digital test can be taken, so that good preparation is possible for every student.”
Start a week earlier
The collection period therefore lasts from January 29 to February 18 this school year. Within that period, the schools themselves choose on which half-days, a maximum of two, they administer the test.
It was not possible to extend the term by a week at the end because this is not organizationally feasible. This would leave too little time between the test and the students’ registration at secondary school at the end of March. In the meantime, the students’ scores are processed, the test standards are determined and school advice is adjusted if necessary.
Current school year
The changes only apply to the digital test this school year. Paper tests must always be taken by all students at the same time, to prevent questions and answers from leaking. It is too soon to bring forward the dates for this test (6 and 7 February). After all, all schools have already recorded this in their planning. Suitable dates are still being considered for the following years.
From final test to progression test
The progression test, which has replaced the final test, will be administered for the first time this school year. That would happen in the first two weeks of February. This means that students receive their final school advice before applying to a secondary school. Because all applications now take place in the same period, all students have the same chance of being admitted to the secondary school of their first choice. In previous years, students could only register with provisional school advice in their pocket. Depending on how you completed the final test, that advice could later be adjusted upwards. As a result, some students suddenly had to look for another secondary school, where there was not always room available. The final test was then taken in April/May.